Education, From The Capitol To The Classroom

Stories about students: How does education policy affect the way students learn and grow? Can schools meet their needs as they balance ramped-up testing with personal changes and busy schedules? And are students who need help getting it?

Stories about educators: How are those responsible for implementing education policy in schools − from classroom teachers, to district administrators, to school board members − affected by changes at the top? And how well do they meet their challenge of reaching students with varying abilities and needs?

Stories about school assessment: With an increased push for 'accountability' in schools, what can test scores tell us about teacher effectiveness and student learning − and what can't they tell us? What does the data say about how schools at all levels are performing?

Stories about government influence: Who are the people and groups most instrumental in crafting education policy? What are their priorities and agendas? And how do they work together when they disagree?

Stories about money: How do local, state, and federal governments pay to support the education policies they craft? How do direct costs of going to school − from textbooks to tuition − hit a parent or student's bottom line? And how do changing budgets and funding formulas affect learning and teaching?

Analysts Predict Slow "Back-To-School" Season For Retailers

July 19, 2011 | 10:10 AM

A typical list of school supplies from Hamilton Traditional School in South Bend

A report from our partners at National Public Radio on the state of “Back-To-School” shopping.

For retailers, it’s the second “most wonderful time of the year” next to the holiday shopping season. But analysts say low consumer confidence means spending this summer will probably be lackluster.

Last month, aggressive discounting and falling gas prices did bring in more business for department, clothing and discount stores.

But Chris Christopher, an economist with IHS Global Insight, says recent dips in consumer confidence mean shoppers will be more tentative about their purchases.

“Consumers and parents don’t feel very optimistic about the future,” Christopher says.

June’s dismal jobs report also dampens the outlook for this year’s back-to-school sales. Christopher says retailers should expect only a modest bump from back-to-school sales by the end of summer.

This may be particularly true in Indiana, where parents are being asked to take on an increasing burden when it comes to paying for their children’s education. A number of cash strapped districts have started asking guardians to pay for everything from bus fees to textbook rentals. In Franklin Township, for example, bus service has been partially converted to a pay-as-you-ride system similar to how regular public transportation works.

Many of these new charges are the result of either state-level funding cuts or alterations to the way that specific services are paid. These include several major changes to Indiana’s property tax code that include have eliminated many sources of local revenue. Along with removing the sources of funding, the state has also increased the amount of money that can be shifted from one fund to another. Essentially allowing schools to use money allocated for construction, transportation, or bus replacement to pay for teachers.